JXmo 


Duke  University  Libraries 

A  sketch  of  the 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #342 


3         CL^gg^g^- 
A    SKETCH 


OP 


r% 


THE   LIFE 


OP 


CAPT.   HEDLEY  VICARS, 


TOE 


CHRISTIAN   SOLDIER. 


"  0  God!  wash  ine  from  all  my  sin's  in  my  Saviour's 
V^  blood,  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow.     Fill  me  with  *yj 
the  Holy  Ghost  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake." 


RICHMOND: 

HACFARLANE  4  FERGUSSON,  PRINTER?. 

1862. 


The  following  sketch  of  Capt.  Hedley  Vicars,  from 
his  life  by  Miss  Marsh,  has  been  prepared,  hoping  that 
thus  abridged,  it  may  obtain  wide  circulation,  and  un- 
der the  blessing  of  God,  prove  more  extensively  use- 
ful to  the  soldiers  of  the  Confederate  Army,  who  have 

left  their  homes  and  are  exposing  their  lives  in  our  de- 

« 
fence. 


THE  YOUNG  OFFICER. 


Hedley  Vicars  was  born  in  the  Mauritius  on  the  7th 
of  December,  1826.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the  Royal 
Engineers.  When  the  boy  was  12  years  old,  that  father's 
dying  hand  was  placed  upon  his  head,  with  the  prayer 
that  he  might  be  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  so 
"  fight  manfully  under  His  banner"  as  to  glorify  His  holy 
name. 

From  this  time  Hedley's  love  for  his  mother  deepened 
into  that  peculiar  form  of  protecting  tenderness  which 
seems  the  prerogative  of  the  widow's  son.  This,  together 
with  much  gentleness,  and  a  sensitive  regard  for  the  feel- 
ings of  others,  combined  with  singular  strength  and  stead- 
fastness of  purpose,  contributed  to  form  his  noble  and 
beautiful  character. 

On  Christmas,  1843,  his  mother  received  a  letter  announ- 
cing that  her  son  had  obtained  a  commission  in  the  line, 
written  by  ffhe  same  hand  which,  on  Good  Friday,  1855, 
informed  her  how  faithfully  unto  death  that  commission 
had  been  fulfilled.  He  was  an  ardent  lover  of  his  profes- 
sion, and,  from  first  to  last,  devoted  to  its  duties. 

In  writing  to  his  mother  an  account  of  his  first  review, 
with  its  fatigues  of  marching,  skirmishing,  and  firing,  he 
adds  with  boyish  pride  ;  "  But  my  zeal  for  the  service  kept 
me  up.,; 

In  the  autumn  of  1844,  he  returned  home  to  take  leave 
of  his  family  at  Ladgford  Grove,  in  Essex,  before  sailing 
for  Corfu.  His  elder  sister  well  remembers  his  joyous 
bearing  as  he  first  exhibited  himself  in  the  Queen's  uni- 
form, and  her  own,  admiration  of  the  bright,  intelligent 
countenance,  broad  shoulders,  and  well  knit,  athletic  figure 
of  her  young  soldier  brother. 

A  few  weeks  afterwards,  he  sailed  for  Corfu — now  fairly 
launched  in  the  world  in  a  profession  beset  with  tempta- 


tions.  He  still  retained  the  frank  demeanor  and  generous 
disposition  which  distinguished  him  as  a  boy;  but  at  this 
period  of  his  life,  his  reckless  disposition  led  him  into 
scenes  of  -which  his  conscience  disapproved,  and  into  ex- 
cesses "which,  though  never  matured  into  habits,  and  by 
the  grace  of  God,  early  and  forever  abandoned,  wrere  ever 
afterwards  the  subject  of  bitter  and  sorrowful  repentance. 
The  97th  Regiment,  to  which  he  belonged,  was  ordered 
to  Jamaica  in  1848.  While  there  his  life  was  one  of  gen- 
eral recklessness,  though  often  under  strong  religious  im- 
pressions and  convictions  of  sin,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  extracts.  Writing  to  his  mother  from  Maroon- 
town,  after  hearing  of  her  illness,  he  says: 

"I  see  it  all  now,  my  darling  mother.  Ever  since  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  last  letter  I  have  been  in  a  dreadful  state  of 
mind.  I  feel  that  I  deserve  God's  punishment  for  my  un- 
dutiful  conduct  towards  the  fondest  of  mothers ;  but  the 
thought  had  never  before  occurred  to  me  that  He  might  see 
fit  to  remove  her  from  me.  What  agony  I  have  endured, 
what  sleepless  nights  I  have  passed  since  the  perusal  of  that 
letter.  The  review  of  my  past  life,  especially  the  retrospect 
of  the  last  two  years,  has  at  last  quite  startled  and  at  the  same 
time  disgusted  me.  You  will  now  see  the  surest  signs  of 
repentance  in  my  future  conduct,  and  believe  me,  as  far  as 
in  me  lies,  never  shall  another  moment's  anxiety  be  caused 
you  by  your  dutiful  and  now  repentant  son." 

Five  months  later  he  writes : 

"My  darling  mother,  I  do  love  you,  and  that  fondly,  al- 
though I  have  often  (may  God  Almighty  forgive  me  !)  re- 
belled against  your  wishes.  Mother,  I  ask  your  forgiveness 
for  what  is  past;  you  know  not  what  real  anguish  some  of 
your  letters  have  caused  me,  and  although  I  have  tried  to 
drown  the  voice  of  conscience  after  reading  them,  a  still, 
small  voice  has  always  been  whispering  in  my  ear,  and  kept 
me  from  many  a  sin." 

In  writing  to  his  sister  at  the  same  time,  he  alludes  to 
his  forebodings  of  an  early  death,  and  wishes  he  were 
"  prepared :" 

"I  am  no  coward,  but  the  thought  of  death  is  solemn,  and 


the  idea  of  dying  far  away,  with  no  mother  or  sister  to  give 
me  comfort  in  my  last  moments,  is  sad  enough  :  yet  I  hope 
the  effect  of  these  reflections  is  wholesome,  and  will  make 
me  consider  seriously  whether  I  am  fit  to  die." 

Again  he  writes: 

"I  must  tell  you  of  the  death  of  a  brother  officer,  Lieut. 
Binden.  He  died  on  the  12th  of  May.  Poor  fellow,  his  was 
a  short  but  a  painful  illness.  When  I  went  into  his  room 
the  sun  was  shining  brightly  through  the  windows,  the  birds 
were  singing  cheerily,  and  the  merry  laugh  of  the  light- 
hearted  soldiers  (plainly  audible  from  their  barracks)  grated 
harshly  on  my  ear.  He  was  dead  !  Looking  on  his  cairn  and 
placid  face  I  could  hardly  believe  that  I  was  not  gazing  on 
the  living  man.  But  alas  his  soul  had  fled!  With  God's 
help  I  trust  I  have  learned  a  lesson  and  a  warning  from  his 
sudden  death.  He  was  buried  the  same  evening  in  the 
small  grave-yard  near  the  cantonment,  and  I,  as  senior  ,sub- 
altern,  had  command  of  the  tiring  party.  When  we  arrived 
the  twilight  was  fast  verging  into  darkness,  and  the  funeral^ 
service  was  read  by  the  light  of  a  candle.  This  is  soon  over, 
and  then  all  retire  from  the  grave  except  myself  and  armed 
party  of  40  men.  We  then  give  the  volleys — the  rolling 
echoes  are  still  reverberating,  when  the  earth  is  thrown  in, 
and  all  is  over.  Such  has  been  the  melancholy  end  of  my 
poor  friend  and  messmate.  I  was  deeply  affected,  and  could 
not  restrain  my  tears.  I  felt  my  voice  choked  as  I  gave  the 
command,  '  Fire  three  volleys  into  the  air. ;      *         *         * 

"  I  have  got  command  of  a  nice  company.  The  men  are 
mostly  well  behaved.  My  endeavor  has  always  been  to  be 
kind  as  well  as  strict,  and  I  believe  my  men  would  do  any- 
thing for  me. 

"  Now,  dearest  mother,  good  by.  Take  care  of  your  health, 
if  not  for  your  own  sake,  at  least  for  the  sake  of  your  ever 
fond  and  affectionate  son, 

hedley: 

We  close  this  reference  to  his  life  in  Jamaica  by  an  ex- 
tract from  the  letter  of  a  friend  who  belonged  to  his  regi- 
ment: 

From  the  first  day  I  saw  Vicars  at  Zante  in  1846,  I  was 
-truck  with  his  manly  air,  and  the  peculiar  open  truthfulness 


6 

of  his  eye.  He  was  at  this  time  quite  taken  up  by  the  gaie- 
ties of  the  island.  We  quitted  for  Malta,  whence  in  1848, 
we  sailed  for  Jamaica.  During  the  voyage,  he  used  to  dress 
as  a  sailor,  and  delighted  in  making  himself  useful  to  the 
crew.  Jn  Jamaica  he  had  the  advantage  of  attending  an 
excellent  ministry,  which  had  some  effect  upon  him,  but 
again  he  was  led  away  by  the  influence  of  evil  companions. 
At  this  time,  as  I  afterwards  heard  from  his  own  lips,  he 
totally  neglected  prayer  and  the  reading  of  the  Bible,  and 
consequently  lost  the  power  of  resisting  temptation. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  SOLDIER. 

The  97th  left  Jamaica  for  Halifax  N.  S.  in  June  1851, 
and  here- we  commence  the  career  of  Hedley  Vicars,  as  a 
Christian  soldier. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  Nov.,  1851,  that  while  waiting 
the  return  of  a  brother  officer  in  his  room,  he  idly  turned 
over  the  leaves  of  a  Bible  which  lay  on  the  table.  The 
words  caught  his  eye  "The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  His 
son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  Closing  the  book  he  said, 
*'  if  this  be  true  for  me,  henceforth  I  will  live  by  the  grace 
of  God,  as  a  man  should  live,  who  has  been  washed  in  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ."  That  night  he  scarcely  slept, 
pondering  in  his  heart  whether  it  were  presumptuous  or 
not  to  claim  an  interest  in  these  words.  During  those 
wakeful  hours  he  was  watched,  we  cannot  doubt,  with 
deep  and  loving  interest  by  the  one,  who  never  slumbereth 
nor  sleepeth,  and  it  was  said  of  him  in  Heaven,  "  behold 
he  prayeth."  In  answer  to  these  prayers,  he  was  enabled 
to  believe,  as  he  arose  in  the  morning,  that  the  message 
of  peace  was  true  for  him — "  a  faithful  saying  and  worthy 
of  all  acceptation."  The  past,  he  said,  then,  is  blotted 
out,  what  I  have  to  do  is  to  go  forward  ;  I  cannot  return 
to  the  sins  from  which  my  Saviour  has  cleansed  me  with 
his  blood. 

On  the  morning  which  succeeded  that  "memorable  day, 
he  bought  a  large  Bible,  and  placed  it  open  on  the  table 


in  his  sitting  room,  determined,  that  an  open  Bible  for  the 
future  should  be  his  colours.  "  It  was  to  speak  for  me," 
he  said,  "  before  I  was  strong  enough  to  speak  for  myself." 
His  friends  came  as  usual  to  his  rooms,  and  did  nut  alto- 
gether fancy  the  new  colors.  One  remarked  that  he  had 
turned  Methodist,  and  with  a  shrug  retreated.  Another 
ventured  to  warn  him  not  to  become  a  hypocrite.  "  Bad 
as  you  were.  I  never  thought  you  #ould  come  to  this,  old 
fellow  l"  So  for  the  most  part  his  quarters  were  deserted 
by  his  late  companions.  During  six  or  seven  months  he 
had  to  encounter  no  slight  opposition  at  the  mess,  and 
hard  work  as  he  said  to  stand  his  ground.  But  the  pro- 
mise did  not  fail.  "  The  righteous  shall  hold  on  his  way  ; 
and  he  that  hath  clean  hands,  shall  wax  stronger  and 
stronger." 

/'  As  he  felt  he  had  been  much  forgiven,"  writes  a 
friend,  "  So  in  proportion  was  his  ever  burning  and  in- 
creasing love  to  Him  whom  he  had  so  long  grieved  by  his 
sins.  The  name  of  Christ  was  ever  on  his  lips  and  in  his 
breast.  Much  grace  was  given  him  to  confess  Jesus  before 
others,  and  when  Adjutant,  his  example  and  rebukes  to 
the  men  for  swearing  carried  great  weight,  and  showed  his 
ze^l  for  the  honor  of  God.  The  Adjutancy  of  his  Regi- 
ment was  offered  to  him  by  his  Colonel  in  1*52,  with  these 
nattering  words  :"  Yicars,  you  are  the  man  I  can  best  trust 
with  responsibility. 

From  his  diary  we  make  the  following  extracts: 

July  3,  1852.  Rode  out  to  visit  Brunt,  a  poor  ordnance  la- 
borer :  Read  and  prayed  with  him  for  nearly  an  hour  ;  he 
appears  to  be  very  ill,  but  all  his  hopes  are  fixed  in  Christ. 

5th.  Rose  at  half  past  five  ;  read  a  chapter  in  Bogatzhy; 
I  feel  I  am  but  little  advanced  as  yet;  evil  thoughts  during 
the  day  ;  read  with  Corporal  Cranny  for  an  hour;  would 
that  I  were  more  like  him  ;  from  not  having  prayed  for  God's 
blessing  on  what  I  was  going  to  read,  I  felt  little  comfort 
from  it  ;  did  not  offer  to  pray  With  him,  as  I  was  afraid  I 
would  break  down  ;  read  and  prayed  with  Brunt. 

9th.  Awoke  sleepy  and  dull,  but  felt  much  happier  after 
prayer;  lost  my  temper  once  or  twice  with  the  men:  I  feel 
that  I  am  unable  of  myself  to   do   any  thing  aright;   read 


8 

Luke  15,  with  Cranny,  and  prayed  ;  in  the  evening  I  became 
unhappy  from  the  thoughts  of  all  my  former  sins. 

25.  Was  preserved  in  answer  to  prayer  from  an  evil  tem- 
per at  drill.  Oh  !  my  God,  grant  it  may  be  always  so  ;  read 
and  prayed  with  poor  Brunt ;  four  of  the  97th  soldiers  came 
and  sat  down  ;  I  h!#e  great  hopes  of  all  ;  was  enabled  to 
speak  to  them  pretty  freely. 

26.  I  begin  to  see  mWte  clearly  every  day  the  depravity  of 
my  own  heart  5  I  spoke  illnaturedly  of  one  or  two;  I  would 
that  I  could  do  two  things  ;  never  speak  about  myself,  and 
never  speak  evil  of  any  one. 

27.  Have  had  happy  thoughts  of  Christ  to-day  ;  Oh  !  what 
cause  have  I  to  love  him. 

March  23.  Lord  Jesus  I  would  give  myself  up  to  thee,  to 
be  led  by  thee  in  all  things  ;  give  me  greater  energy  and 
zeal  in  the  performance  of  my  duties ;  enable  me  to  please 
my  Colonel  and  yet  to  please  Thee. 


The  97th  landed  in  England  in  May,  1353,  and  the  fam- 
ily of  Iledley  Vicars  were  again  made  happy  by  his  pres- 
ence. Blessed,  and  a  blessing  wherever  he  went,  it  would 
be  beyond  the  limit  of  these  few  extracts  to  tell  of  all  his 
labors  in  his  Master's  cause,  and  of  the  influence  for  good 
which  he  exerted  in  whatever  company  he  was  thrown. 

When  on  guard  at  Canterbury,  he  writes : 

"  I  was  struck  with  a  proof  that  God  is  no  respecter  of 
persons,  and  has  His  own  people  in  every  class.  I  saw  two 
wretched  looking  men  picking  up  pieces  of  rag,  as  I  thought, 
in  front  of  the  guard  tent.  After  they  had  collected  several, 
they  sat  down.  I  went  to  them,  and  found  they  were  col- 
lecting pieces  of  meat  and  biscuit  that  had  been  thrown 
away  by  the  men  after  dinner.  These  they  ate  ravenously. 
I  got  them  some  clean  meat,  and  conversed  with  thern  about 
ten  minutes.  They  seemed  surprised  that  an  officer  "in 
such  fine  clothes,"  talked  to  them  about  Christ.  One  of  them 
had  been  a  stoker  in  a  railway,  who  had  been  run  over  by  a 
train  which  had  smashed  his  hand  and  foot,  yet  he  could 
talk  with  delight  of  the  mercy  of  God  hrs'  Saviour,  and  of 
His  goodness  and  forbearance  !  Who  knowsbut  that  I  may 
meet  and  recognize  these  poor  fellows  m  Heaven." 


Again  he  writes : 

"  I  was  dining  with  a  nice  family  near  Canterbury,  and 
met  a  large  party.  I  noticed  opposite  to  me  a  very  pleasant 
looking  fellow,  and  was  struck  by  his  quiet,  calm  manner 
and  countenance.  After  he  bad  adjourned  to  the  drawing- 
room,  I  asked  him  if  he  belonged  to  the  Army  Prayer  Union? 
To  which  he  said  'yes.'  We  became  friends  at  once.  lie 
said  '  there  is  a  man  in  the  97th  whom  I  want  to  know;  his 
name  is  Vicars.'  I  replied,  '  there  is  a  man  in  the  Rifle  Bri- 
gade, whom  I  want  to  know;  it  is  Captain  Hammond.'* 
We  were  at  each  other's  service.  On  Saturday  he  came  to 
see  me,  and  staid  for  some  time.  He  is  a  delightful  fellow. 
I  sent  for  Cay,  and  we  had  a  happy  time  of  communion  to- 
gether. It  is  a  great  blessing  to  have  such  a  brother  officer 
as  Cay.  He  is  one  in  a  thousand.  We  often  walk  together, 
and  he  generally  comes  up  to  my  barracks  after  mess,  and 
we  read  the  Bible,  converse  about  heavenly  things,  ami  end 
in  prayer." 

He  writes  to  his  mother  from  Gibraltar,  February  11th, 
on  board  a  coal  hulk  ; 

"  Dearest  Mother — Here  I  am,  thank  God,  safe  and  sound  ; 
but,  alas  !  in  quarantine  for  seven  days.  We  had  a  prosper- 
ous voyage  and  delightful  weather.  I  was  in  hopes  that  I 
should  have  had  a  cabin  to  myself,  but  was  doubled  in  with 
two  cadets  in  the  East  India  service.  At  first  I  was  strongly 
inclined  to  avoid  the  reproach  of  the  Cross,  and  not  to  make 
a  mark  of  myself  by  kneeling  or  reading  the  Bible  in  their 
presence  before  retiring  to  rest ;  but  God  gave  me  grace  to 
overcome  this.  Still  it  shows  me  what  a  coward  I  am,  that 
I  should  even  for  an  instant' be  tempted  to  hide  my  colors  and 
be  ashamed  to  confess  Christ !:' 


*  Capt.  Maximilian  Hammond,  Rifle  Brigade. — This  brave 
and  Christian  young  officer  fell  in  the  Redan,  while  "  mak- 
ing a  pathway  for  his  men,  in  the  final  assault  upon  Sebas- 
topol,  September  8th,  1855,"  honored  and  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  him.  Faithful  unto  death  in  the  service  of  the  King 
of  kings,  as  in  his  duty  to  his  Queen  and  country,  he  has  re- 
ceived, we  doubt  not,  "a  crown  of  glory,  which  fadeth  not 
away. 


10 


THE    WAR. 

Scarcely  had  Iledley  Vicars  sailed  for  Gibraltar,  -when 
the  startling  order  for  an  army  to  proceed  from  England 
to  the  East,  shook  the  heart  of  peaceful  England  to  the 
centre.  Parting  words  were  spoken  and  farewell  blessings 
given  to  extend  over  fields  of  bloodshed  and  death.  At 
length  came  the  notice  of  the  97th's  being  under  orders. 
Iledley  hurried  home  to  say  farewell  to  all  most  dear  to 
him.  At  Beckenham,  among  beloved  friends,  there  we 
find  him,  on  the  evening  of  his  arrival,  addressing  a  num- 
ber of  the  navvies  at  the  reading-room  of  the  village.  It 
was  crowded,  and  many  more  surrounded  the  doors.  He 
spoke  to  them — "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God" — and  no  man, 
on  his  dying  bed,  could  have  spoken  with  greater  solem- 
nity and  earnestness.  There  he  stood,  a  strong  young 
man  amidst  strong  young  men,  "  putting  himself  along- 
side of  us  as  a  fellow-sinner,"  as  one  of  them  said,  "  yet 
so  good  now,  and  suph  a  man  withal !"  As  they  crowded 
round  to  say  farewell,  and  wish  him  safety  and  success, 
they  were  heard  saying  among  themselves,  "  It  is  a  pity 
such  a  fine  fellow  as  that  should  go  to  be  shot !" 

On  his  way  to  the  station  he  visited  a  dying  man  at  Syd- 
enham, with  whom  he  prayed.  The  man  said  "  he  never 
heard  such  a  prayer  :  it  went  straight  to  his  heart !" 

While  waiting  for  the  train,  he  spoke  to  a  dear  friend  of 
the  comfort  of  love  between  Christian  friends,  and  then 
added,  in  a  low  undertone,  yet  slightly  hurried,  "  I  have 
one  last  favor  to  ask  of  you  :  when  I  am  shot,  write  to  my 
mother;  see  her  when  you  can,  comfort  her  as  God  will 
teach  you."  Very  early  in  the  morning  of  the  day  he  left 
for  London,  he  and  his  mother  met  for  prayer.  He  knelt 
long  by  her  side,  pouring  out  his  heart  in  pleadings  with 
God  for-her,  that  grace  and  strength  might  be  given  for 
every  hour  of  need.  Strengthened  in  spirit  by  that  prayer, 
she  was  able,  with  his  sisters,  to  go  with  him  to  the  sta- 
tion. The  remembrance  of  his  last  look,  his  last  embrace, 
his  last  blessing,  still  dwells  in  their  hearts,  and  makes 
that  parti ng-plaoe  seem  almost  like  holy  ground. 
# 


11 

A  few  days  before  the  97th  left  for  their  embarkment, 
many  of  the  men  were  heard  speaking  with  affection  and 
respect  of  this  their  favorite  officer.  One  of  them  named 
Reynolds,  said,  "  Since  Mr.  Vicars  became  good,  he  has 
steadied  about  fou:*  hundred  men  in  the  regiments." 
"  Four  hundred  !"  was  repeated  with  surprise. 

"  I  don't  mean  that  he  has  made  all  the  four  hundred  as 
good  as  himself :  that  he  couldn't.  I  know  enough  about 
religion  to  know  that  God  alone  could  do  this.  But  while 
he  was  Adjutant,  and  since  too,  he  has  sobered  and  stea- 
died nigh  four  hundred  of  the  drunkenmost  and  wildest 
men  in  the  regiment.  There  is  not  a  better  officer  nor  a 
better  man  in  the  Queen's  service." 

It  was  a  lovely  morning,  the  19th  of  May,  when  the 
dear  friend  whom  he  here  mentioned  drove  to  the  Water- 
loo station  to  say  the  last  farwell  to  Iledley  Vicars.  The 
sunshine  glittering  on  the  bayonets  of  the  men  as  they 
marched  up  the  steps  to  the  station  seemed  to  mock  the 
tears  of  wives,  sisters  and  friends,  who  accompanied  them. 
A  young  wife  was  seen  to  quit  her  hold  of  her  husband's 
hand,  and  approaching  Iledley  Vicars  with  a  manner  of 
respectful  confidence,  said:  "  Oh,  Mr.  Vicars,  you  will  see 
that  Cottrell  writes  to  me  regular,  won't  you  ?  It  is  my 
only  comfort  to  know  that  you  will."  The  kindness  and 
sympathy  of  his  tone  as  he  answered,  told  that  her  confi- 
dence was  not  misplaced.  During  the  delay  of  the  train 
those  dear  friends  read  together  in  the  waiting-room  the 
121st  Psalm,  parting  with  the  words,  "  The  Lord  is  thy 
keeper." 


THE    HOSPITAL. 

The  97th  was  destined  to  form  form  part  of  the  Anglo- 
French  force  in  Greece,  and  we  find  Hedley  Vicars  wri- 
ting from  the  Pirceus,  telling  of  his  first  walk  round 
Athens,  the  beauty  of  the  country,  and  blessing  his  friends 
for  their  welcome  letters.     He  writes  : 

11  Jesus  is  very  precious  to  my  soul ;  my  all  in  all.      Often 


12 

have  I  been  on  the  point  of  falling  away,, and  yet  His  arm 
has  held  ine  up,  and  kept  me  from  bringing  dishonor  on 
His  blessed  name.     To  Him  be  all  the   praise  and  all   the^ 

glory." 

Again  : 

•'  We  are  quartered  here  with  the  French,  wko  have  up- 
wards of  four  thousand  men.  They  are  in  tents  ;  we  are 
how  in  barracks.  The  weather  is  very  hot  and  the  climate 
bad.  We  are  now  in  quarantine,  as  the  cholera  has  broken 
out  amongst  the  French.  They  have  lost  two  officers  and 
one  hundred  men.  We  have  not  lost  a  man,  but  it  is  a  so- 
lemn time,  and  loudly  calls  upon  each  of  us,  'Prepare  to 
meet  thy  God.'  " 

It  was  the  love  of  Christ  constraining  him,  and  no  mere 
sense'of  duly  which  led  Hedley  Vicirs  to  spend  the  great- 
er part  of  his  days,  and  often  of  his  nights,  in  the  pesti- 
lentiaPair  of  the  crowded  hospitals.  Dearer  than  to  him 
was  the  hope  of  persuading  the  dying  to  look  to  Jesus, 
and  precious  indeed  was  the  privilege  when  the  lighting 
up  of  a  dying  eye  at  the  sound  of  thtft  beloved  nxrae,  as- 
sured him  that  he  was  ministering  to  one  of  the  Saviour's 
flock—"  I  was  sick  and  ye  visited  me." 

A  young  fellow-officer,  in  whom  he  was  much  interested, 
writes : 

"I  have  been  thinking  over  the  time  we  spent  at  the  Pi- 
roeus,  and  will  tell  you  of  anything  that  strikes  me.  I  was 
constantly  with  Vicars  there,  and  know  what  his  daily  life 
was  better  than  anyone  else.  He  never  for  a  moment  seem- 
ed to  forget  whose  he  was.  When  he  was  in  camp  on  first, 
landing  he  was  in  the  habit  of  going  out  for  hours  alone 
amongst  the  rocks  on  the  sea  shore,  having  only  his  Bible, 
which  I  remember  he  told  me  Dr.  Marsh  called  '  his  sword.'  " 

There  was  no  Chaplain  for  the  English  Regiment  there. 
Part  of  the  services  was  generally  read  by  the  officers  to 
the  men  of  their  own  companies;  and  the  officers  in  rota- 
tion took  the  duty  morning  and  evening  of  burying  the 
dead,  which  sometimes,  of  our  English  Regiment  only, 
after  the  cholera  came,  exceeded  ten  daily.  Vicars  under- 
took this  duty  several  times  for  others,  and  seldom,  if  tvor, 


13 

performed  it  without  addressing  a  few  earnest  words  to 
the  men  present.  Soon  after  the  sickness  broke  out  he 
used  regularly  to-visit  the  hospitals,  reading  and  praying 
with  the  dying  men,  and  seizing  every  opportunity  to 
speak  to  others  of  the  "  one  thing  needful." 

Again  he  writes  himself: 

Pirceus,  July  21,  1852.-1  kncAv  that  what  I  have  to  tell 
you  will  cause  you  great  anxiety,  but  the  newspapers  will 
give  you  all  the  particulars  whether  I  will  or  not.  The  cho- 
lera has  been  raging  here  for  some  time.  It  was  with  the 
French  alone,  but  the  day  before  yesterday  we  lost  one  man, 
and  since  then  nine  have  been  carried  off.  Oh,  dearest 
friends,  pray  that  this  fearful  visitation  may  be  the  means  of 
awakening  solemn  thoughts  in  the  stoutest  hearts  among  my 
■thoughtless  comrades,  and  leading  them  for  pardon,  peace 
and  safety,  to  Jesus  the  Saviour  of  sinners."     *     *     * 

"  Should  I  die  now  you  know  my  only  ground  of  hope,  my 
only  confidence,  my  only  assurance  is  in  the  cross  of  Jesus 
Christ  and  in  the  knowledge  that  the  precious  blood  of 
Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin — words  as  full  of  sweetness  M 
me  now  as  on  the  day  that  they  were  lirst  made  to  my  soul 
the  power  of  God  unto  salvation." 

PlRffiUs,  July  25th. — u  Death  for  hours  has  been  busy  among 
our  poor  fellows  since  I  wrote.  Twenty-seven  have  fallen 
in  seven  days.  Do  you  remember  Reynolds  whom  you  no- 
ticed when  you  gave  the  hymn-book  at  Kensington  barracks  ? 
I  buried  him  and  another  comrade  last  night.  I  had  intend- 
ed speaking  a  few  words  to  the  men  over  the  open  grave  of 
their  dead  comrades,  but  it  was  as  much  as  I  could  do  to  get 
through  the  service,  and  as  soon  as  I  began  to  speak  to  them 
afterwards,  I  could  not  for  the  life  of  me  help  crying  like  a 
cnild.  The  men  cried  and  sobbed  round  me.  It  was  no  use 
to  try  to  get  on,  so  I  ordered  them  to  '  fall  in,'  and  we  went 
mournfully  back  to  the  barracks.  Morning  and  evening  the 
dead  cart  leaves  the  hospital  for  the  grave-yard.  It  is  sad 
and  solemn,  but  I  trust  that  many  have  learned  a  lesson  that 
will  never  be  forgotten." 

Aug.  18. — "  About  seventy  of  my  hundred  and  seven  com* 
rades  who  have  died  of  cholera,  were  men  whom  I  well 
knew.  I  do  hope  that  some,  nay,  that  many  amongst  them 
were  enabled  to  look  to  Jesus  in   their   last  moments.     God 


14 


grant  that  we  may  find  such  to  have  been  the  case  when  we 
all  meet  at  the  last  day. 

"  Poor  Cottrell  lias  been  ill  again,  but  is  recovering.  The 
Scripture  reading  is  in  the  ward  where  he  is, -and  he  is  very 
attentive,  as  indeed  they  all  are.  The  day  before  yesterday, 
whilst  going  round  the  wards,  I  noticed  one  poor  young  fel- 
low who  had  been  admitted  about  an  hour  before.  His  eyes 
were  sunken,  and  his  hollow  cheeks  and  his  blackened  face 
showed  that  the  fearful  disease  had  seized  upon  him  with 
the  grasp  of  death.  I  spoke  to  him  for  a  little  while  and 
then  passed  on  to  others.  The  next  day  his  bed  was  empty. 
One  of  the  orderlies  told  me  that  he  suffered  much  in  his 
mind  before  he  died.  He  had  his  senses  to  the  last,  which 
is  very  unusual.  He  asked  one  of  the  men  for  a  prayer- 
book  ;  not  one  was  at  hand.  He  then  said  '  read  me  the  first 
chapter  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  John.'  At  its  close  he  said,  'I 
feel  much  revived  in  my  mind' — and  died.  Oh,  we  will  be- 
lieve that  he  was  enabled  to  'behold  the  Lamb  of  God  which 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  World.'  I  cannot  tell  you  how 
sorry  I  was  that  I  was  not  there." 

Aug.  21.  Pirceus. — "  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  there  is 
a  decrease  of  cholera.  The  last  man  we  have  lost,  one  cf 
the  Light  Company,  was  admitted  in  hospital  last  night. 
Poor  fellow,  he  suffered  most  dreadfully;  it  was  painful  to 
stand  by  his  bedside.  I  remained  with  him  for  nearly  an 
hour  and  spoke  to  him  from  time  to  time  of  Jesus,  but  when- 
ever the  cramps  came  on,  his  screams  quite  drowned  my 
voice.  On  leaving  I  shook  hands  with  him,  his  were  black 
and  cold,  and  told  him  to  'behold  the  Lamb  of  God  which 
taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world,  to  look  to  Jesus  'whose 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  When  I  mentioned  the  name 
of  Jesus,  he  gave  me  such  a  wonderful  look,  full  of  peace 
and  resignation.  In  less  than  four  hours  afterwards  his  soul 
had  fled." 

He  writes  to  his  sister  Sept.  27 : 

"  Oh  jdearest  Mary,  it  is  well  to  have  the  love  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  its  reality  in  our  hearts — what  solid  peace  and  rich 
enjoyment  we  obtain  by  looking  unto  Jesus.  I  have  wit- 
nessed the  effect  of  even  the  name  of  Jesus.  I  have  noticed 
a  calm  and  peaceful  look  pass  more  than  once  over  the 
ghastly  face  of  the  dying  as  that  blessed  name  passed  my 
lips.     May  we  not  hope,  dearest  sister,  that  [as  it  was  with 


15 

i 

the  dying  thief,]  even  at  the  hour  of  death,  faith  in  the  blood 
of  Jesus  breathed  in  the  soul  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  has  set 
more  jewels  in  the  Redeemer's  crown  from  among  the  sol- 
diers of  the  97ih  Regiment  1  God  ^rant  that  when  you  and 
I  are  summoned  before  the  bar  of  Christ  we  may  meet  many 
such  clothed  in  white  robes  and  palms  in  their  hands. 

I  remember  I  often  used  to  visit  at  Halifax  a  corporal 
named  Cranny  of  the  42nd  Highlanders  who  was  left  behind 
in  hospital  when  his  regiment  left.  One  evening  when  I 
went  to  see  him  he  said,  '  I  am  so  glad  you  are  come,  you 
always  speak  to  me  of  Him  of  whom  I  love  to  hear,  even 
Jesus  my  precious  Saviour.'  Shortly  before  he  breathed  his 
last,  he  asked  Dr.  Twining  to  read  Rom.  8th  to  him.  As  he 
read,  the  dying  man's  breath  became  shorter  and  his  face 
brighter,  and  as  the  last  words  fell  upon  his  ear,  wNor  height, 
nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature  shall  be  able  to  separate  us 
from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,'  he 
sai(^'  Thank  you  sir,  that  will  do'  and  died. 

Pirobus  Nov.  2nd.  The  order  has  at  length  arrived  for  the 
97th  Regiment  to  hold  itself  in  readiness  for  immediate  em- 
barkation to  join  Lord  Raglan's  army.  There  cannot  be  a 
doubt  that  this  is  a  just  war  which  we  are  engaged  in,  and 
therefoie  I  say  the  sooner  we  are  '  let  loose'  the  better.  I 
think  the  Hessians  will  find  the  Celestials  rather  awkward 
customers  to  deal  with,  'Nous  verrons.'  There  are  some 
people,  I  know,  who  cannot  imagine  how  any  christian 
oould  ever  join  in  the  deadly  strife  of  battle,  but  I  can  only 
say  that  with  such  I  do  not  agree  ;  so  that  I  shall  not  shrink 
from  doing  my  duty  to  my  Queen  and  my  country,  the  Lord 
being  my  helper.  I  consider  war  to  be  a  cruel  calamity,  but 
as  much  a  visitation  from  Heaven  as  cholera,  and,  as  on  the 
appearance  of  that  dreadful  malady  we  do  not  sit  quietly 
down  and  let  it  take  its  course,  but,  trusting  to  the  blessing 
of  God,  use  every  precaution  and  employ  every  means  to 
drive  it  from  amongst  us,  so  in  the  case  of  this  war  with  the 
Russian  despot.  He  has  made  aggression  upon  a  country 
which  had  given  him  no  just  cause,  and  thus  disturbed  the 
peace  of  Europe,  and  let  loose  upon  us  the  horrors  of  war, 
and  shall  we  Britons  let  him  have  his  own  way,  and  tamely 
look  on?  God  forbid  !  Rather  will  we,  the  Lord  being  our 
1  shield  and  buckler,'  crush  the  evil  and  restore  peace  and 
quietness  to  the  land.'' 


16 


THE    CRIMEA. 

It  is  needless  here  to  describe  the  sufferings  of  the  Eng- 
lish Array  during  that  winter  before  Sebastopol.  Battles 
won  against  overwhelming  numbers  on  the  cold  soil  of  the 
Crimea,  by  weary  men,  worn  down  by  hunger,  bore  terri- 
ble witness  to  the  quenchless  nature  of  British  courage. 
The  men  who  stormed  the  heights  of  Alma,  who  in  the 
dreadful  fight  of  Inkerman,  conquered  again  amidst  fogs 
and  darkness — who  at  Balaklava  "  charged  a  whole  army 
while  all  the  world  wondered,"  such  men  had  proved  their 
steel.  Yet  these  very  men  have  been  seen  to  weep  as  • 
night  after  night,  succeeding  days  of  starvation  and  toil, 
they  were  ordered  to  their  work  in  the  freezing  trenches. 
Who  can  estimate  what  they  must  first  have  endured.  It 
was  amidst  scenes  like  these  that  the  faith  of  Hedley  Vi- 
cars avps  to  have  its  last  tria'.  Sharing  as  he  did  the 
general  toil  and  privation,  he  was  ever  fulfilling  the  Apos- 
tle's injunction,  "  Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens."  Dur- 
ing the  severe  cold  ot  that  winter,  the  only  bed  he  allowed 
himself  was  made  of  stones  and  leaves,  till  the  arrival  of  a 
fur  rug  from  England  sent  by  a  friend  who  was  dear  to 
him.  Every  thing  else  which  could  bear  the  name  of  lux-  , 
uries,  even  of  common  comfort,  was  given  to  the  deeper 
necessities  of  the  suffering  soldiers. 

He  writes  to  his  sister,  Lady  Rayleigh : 

Camp  before  Sebastopol,  Nov.  29,  1854. 

My  own  Darling  Clara. — I  received  your  delightful  letter 
yesterday,  together  with  three  from  Beekenham.  I  think  I 
never  had  a  richer  treat.         *         *         * 

We  had  delightful  weather  sailing  up  the  Bosphorus,  and 
the  scenery  was  charming.  In  the  Black  Sea  we  encounter- 
ed stormy  weather.  We  did  not  go  on  shore  at  Balaklava 
till  the  evening  of  the  20th.  The  rain  poured  in  torrents  all 
day.  We  landed  in  boats,  and  were  well  drenched  before 
we    reached    the    encampment  ground,   looking    more   like 


17 

drowned  rats  than  live  soldier?.  It  was  dark  before  the  tents 
were  pitched.  Parties  were  at  once  sent  out  to  collect  fire 
wood,  the  wrecks  of  vessels  furnishing  us  with  plenty  of 
material.  Soon  cam])  fires  were  blazing  in  all  directions, 
and  officers  and  men  gathered  round  them  to  dry  their  clothes 
and  warm  themselves,  for  the  nights  here  are  bitterly  cold. 
I  can  assure  yon  I  enjoy  some  cheese  and  biscuit  not  a  little. 
But  before  I  looked  after  myself,  I  saw  my  company  i 
and  comfortable  as  adverse  circumstances  would  admit  of, 
and  afterwards  made  them  a  little  speee!]  around  the  bivou- 
ac fires,  combining  as  well  as  I  could,  some  religious  advice 
with  a  few  words  about  our  duty  as  British  soldiers,  and 
ended  in  saying,  "  Lads,  while  1  have  life,  I  will  stick  to 
the  colours,  and  I  know  you  will  not  desert  me.'  The  poor 
fellows  cheered  me  long  and  loud.  About  ten  o'clock,  1  read 
by  the  light  of  the  first"  bivouac  fire,  Ps.  23d,  90th  and  01st, 
with  Capt.  Ingram,  and  derived  great  comfort  and  peace  from 
them.  Resting  on  Jesus  my  precious  Saviour,  I  went  to 
sleep  securely.  My  bed  was  made  of  dry  leaves  with  a 
stone  for  my  pillow,  and  but  for  the  biting  cold,  I  should 
have  slept  like  a  top.  On  the  morning  of  the  22nd,  we  re- 
ceived orders  to  march  for  the  lines  before  Sebastopol,  and 
came  in  sight  oi  the  white  lines  of  the  English  and  French, 
after  a  rough  march  of  seven  miles.  On  the  morning  of  the 
25th,  I  walked  up  the  hill  in  our  front,  and  had  a  fine  view 
of  the  magnificent  fortress  and  harbor  of  Sebastopol.  I  could 
clearly  see  the  masts  in  the  harbor  across  the  water,  where 
the  Russians  had  sunk  their  men-of-war.  Whilst  admiring 
the  place,  a  cannon  ball  from  one  of  their  batteries  whizzed 
past  my  ear.  I  have  been  told  since,  that  the  Russians 
think  nothing  of  firing  shells  and-  round  shot  when  they  see 
even  one  of  our  poor  fellows.  The  weather  has  beei^stoimy 
and  our  men  are  dying  with  the  cholera. 

The  duty  has  been  very  severe  in  the  trenchc-,  distant 
about  three  miles  from  the  cam)).  I  was  in  them  from  five 
in  the  evening  till  five  the  next  morning,  and  also  on  out- 
lying picquet  the  whole  of  the  following  night,  sleeping  in 
the  open  air,  with  a  few  bushes  over  me.  I  could  hear  the 
tolling  of  the  great  bell  at  Sebastopol  and  the  voices  of  the 
Russians  working  in  their  fortifications,  as  plainly  as  could 
be.  Yesterday  I  got  a  pint  of  water  to  wash  my  face  and 
hands,  and  sorely  they  needed  it.  We  have  nothing  to  com- 
plain of  in  the  way  of  rations.     I  get  a  pound   of  salt  pork 


18 

and  as  much  biscuit  as  I  can  eat  every  day.  The  other  day 
my  subaltern  and  a  party  of  men  gave  chase  to  a  young 
bullock,  close  to  the  Russian  lines  ;  they  caught  him,  and  we 
made  a  capital  dinner  of  part  of  him  this  afternoon. 

We  are  anxiously  waiting  for  Lord  Raglan  to  storm  Sebas- 
topol ;  for  though  we  may  lose  many  in  so  doing,  yet  any- 
thing would  be  better  than  seeing  our  fine  soldiers  dying  as 
they  are  daily.  The  accounts  of  the  Russians  killing  our 
wounded  officers  and  men  are  true,  confirmed  by  all  here. 
We  all  hope  soon  to  have  an  opportunity  of  thrashing  these 
savages,  and  have  not  a  doubt  we  shall  do  so,  when  we 
come  across  them. 

In  the  trenches  the  other  day,  one  of  our  men  amused  us 
much.  At  the  first  shell,  which  passed  close  to  him,  he  drop- 
ped down  on  his  back,  screaming  aloud  for  the  doctor,  for 
he  was  '  kilt  intirely  !'  The  doctor  ran  up  to  him,  and  aslced 
him  where  he  had  been  hurt,  when  he  exclaimed  '  Och,  och  ! 
doctor,  clane  through  the  blanket!1  I  have  the  tent  to  my- 
self, Brinkley  being  on  duty  in  the  trenches.  It  is  curious 
what  delightful  dreams  I  have  every  time  I  fall  asleep. 
Now  I  am  at  Terling,  surrounded  by  all  your  beloved  faces ; 
then,  again,  at  Beckenham  with  those  I  love  so  dearly.  At 
another  time,  I  am  going  to  read  to  old  Sophy  ;  again,  sitting 
by  the  fire  in  the  drawing  room  telling  tales  of  the  past  to 
dear  John,  and  awake  to  find  my  teeth  chattering,  a  sharp 
stone  sticking  into  my  side,  the  wind  howling  in  gusts  and 
squalls,  and  a  concert  of  cannon  and  small  shot,  with  varia- 
tions from  English,  French  and  Russian  performers,  instead 
of  a  chant  in  the  hall. 

The  night  before  last,  one  of  my  beautiful  dreams  was 
dispelled  by  a  shaking  of  my  tent,  and  in  answer  to  '  who  is 
there?'  I  received  the  reply,  'Please,  sir,  a  stall  officer  has 
just  ritraen  into  the  camp  to  bid  us  be  ready  at  a  moment's 
notice — the  Russians  are  moving  on  our  right  flank!'  'AH 
right,'  said  I ;  and,  commending  myself  to  my  Heavenly 
Father,  fell  fast  asleep  again,  knowing  that  I  was  all  ready 
for  a  moment's  notice.  However,  we  heard  no  more  of  it. 
While  I  write,  musketry  is  hard  at  work  and  cannon  roar- 
ing. It  is  with  difficulty  I  manage  to  scrape  together  time 
and  material  for  writing.  My  best  love  to  dear  Edward  and 
to  dear  Lord  Rayleigh.  May  God  bless  him,  soul  and  body. 
Ever,  my  own  darling  Clara, 

Your  affectionate  brother,  Hedlby. 


19 

To  his  second  sister,  he  writes: 

"  The  rain  is  pouring  in  torrents,  but  I  have  this  nigh: 
been  in  bed  for  a  wonder,  so  I  shall  have  a  little  time  to  dry  ; 
but  I  pity  the  poor  fellows  in  the  trenches,  200  of  our  met; 
and  7u0  of  the  other  regiment.  The  men  of  all  the  British 
regiments  are  dying  every  day.  and  many  are  buried  without- 
the  funeral  service.  We  ate  now,  to  mend  matters,  placed 
on  half  rations,  but  I  was  never  much  of  an  epicure,  so  I  an: 
quite  contented  with  what  they  give  me.  Indeed,  I  have 
no  patience  with  fellows  that  are  always  grumbling.  Our 
hardships  certainly  are  very  great,  but  as  soldiers  we  ought 
to  bear  them.  Many  officers,  I  hear,  are  resigning  their  com- 
missions. I  can  only  say,  shame  on  those  who  desert  their 
country  in  this  time  of  need  !  We  all  made  a  great  mistake 
in  not  bringing  warm  clothing  with  us  here.  I  did  buy  a 
comforter  though,  which  is  more  than  most  fellows  have. 
Thank  God  I  am  very  well  and  in  fine  spirits,  only  hoping 
that  Lord  Raglan  will  soon  let  us  try  our  hands  on  the  Rus- 
sians. ****-*.  Oh,  precious  sister!  from  whom  I  may  so 
soon  be  parted  here,  remember  Jesus,  and  never  be  ashamed 
to  confess  Christ  crucified  !  Jesus  has  bled  for  us,  has  re- 
deemed us,  has  saved  us  !  Oh,  then,  let  us  not  cause  hir- 
once  wounded  heart  to  bleed  for  us  again,  but  looking  for 
Heaven's  aid,  let  us  seek  never  to  grieve  him  more. 

'■  It  is  six  months  since  I  have  been  in  reach  of  a  house  of 
prayer,  or  have  had  an  opportunity  of  receiving  the  sacrament, 
yet  never  have  I  enjoyed  more  frequent  or  precious  com- 
munion with  my  Saviour,  than  I  have  found  in  the  trenches 
or  in  my  tent.  When,  I  should  like  to  know,  could  one  find 
a  Saviour  more  precious,  than  when  bullets  are  falling 
around  like  hail  ?" 

"  December  IS. — I  am,  thank  God,  quite  well  :  never  bet- 
ter, and  what  is  more,  clean!  You  know  my  weakness  for 
•  cataracts.'  Well,  I  have  contrived  to  get  one  every  day  for 
nearly  three  weeks,  but  then  I  take  more  pains  to  get  water 
than  most  fellows.  We  dined  to-day  off  soaked  biscuit* 
fried  in  lard,  a  capital  dish  ;  boiled  ration  pork,  veiy  good  : 
potatoes,  middling,  with  mustard  and  salt — my  wine  being 
weak  rum  and  water.  I  am  sure  drinking  spirits  is  a  bad 
plan,  and,  besides  being  injurious,  makes  a  man  colder  an 
hour  afterwards.  Each  officer  and  man  is  allowed  a  gill  of 
rum  daily,  but  I  never  drink  even   half  of  mine,  often  none 


20 

at  all.  I  went  on  picquet  this  morning  at  half  past  four, 
with  fifty  men.  It  rained  hard  for  about  an  hour.  I  kept 
up  a  jolly  fire,  and  endeavored  to  write  a  letter  to  darling 
mother,  'while  seated  opposite  its  blaze.  I  read  the  first 
Epistle  of  Peter,  and  then  folding  my  cloak  around  me,  and 
stretching  myself  close  by  the  watch-fire,  I  was  sound  asleep 
in  ten  minutes^  notwithstanding  the  roar  of  cannon  and  rat- 
tle of  musketry  which  kept  up  a  concert  during  the  night." 

All  this  time  the  prayer  meetings  were  continued  in  his 
tent  at  every  opportunity,  and  wearied  and  worn,  as  he 
often  was  after  nights  on  picquet,  or  in  the  trenches,  fre- 
quently before  he  rested,  he  was  found  in  the  hospital  tent. 
He  writes: 

"  We  are  expecting  every  day  to  meet  the  enemy  in  open 
field,  or  to  storm  the  fortress.  I  wish  they  could  go  at  it  at 
oace.  Be  not  anxious  about  me.  I  am  safe  in  the  arms  of 
my  Saviour.     I  know  it — I  feel  it — in  life  or  death. 

"  Camp  before  Sbbastopol,  Dec.  25* — Thank  you,  dearest 
friend,  for  your  affecting  letter  from  Mr.  Halkett's  house.  I 
grieve  much  to  say,  that  there  is  no  hope  left  now  that  dear 
Halkett  *  might  be  a  prisoner  in  Sebastopol,  but  I  believe  he 
is  in  the  presence  of  his  God,  clothed  in  the  spotless  robe  of 
his  Redeemer's  righteousness.  The  man  who  so  loved  the 
14th  chapter  of  St.  John,  has  found  it  all  true  for  him.  I  shall 
make  the  motto  he  chose  for  himself  my  own,  and,  if  I  am 
to  fall  too,  I  hope  I  may  die,  with  it  on  my  lips:  'In  God  is 
my  salvation  and  my  glory  ;  the  rock  of  my  strength  and  my 
refuge  is  in  God.'  Give  my  love  to  his  dear  young  wife-,  and 
tell  her  I  pray  God  to  comfort  her.  Her  message  went  to 
my  heart.     I  know  not  that  I  could  have  '  saved  him?  but  I 


*  Major  Douglas  Halkett,  who  fell  in  the  flower  of  his  age 
in  the  charge  at  Balaklava.  His  thoughtful  and  benevolent 
character  had  won  for  him  the  name  of  ''  Father  of  his  Re- 
giment!" Brave  as  he  was  gentle,  his  gallant  bearing  was 
noticed  even  amidst  the  fury  of  that  death-charge.  The  last 
time  he  was  seen  was  in  the  field  fearfully,  wounded,  hold- 
ing out  some  bank  notes  to  his  men,  with  the  characteristic 
words,  "Take  them  for  the  wives  and  widows  at  home!" 


21 

would  have  carried  him  to  the  rear  or  died  in  the  attempt. 
I  have  prayed  that  Jesus  himself  would  comfort  her.  I 
know  He  will.  Bless  you.  my  own  mother,  sister,  friend  and 
connseller.  Give  my  warmest  love  to  all  around  you,  espe- 
cially your  honored  father.  God  bless  him,  and  God  bless 
also  the  father  of  her  I  love  best  on  earth.  '•Christinas  day, 
1854.  I  am  for  out-lying  picquet  in  ten  minutes,  and  have. 
but  time  to  wish  you  a  happy  Christmas.  It  is  so  bitterly 
cold,  I  can  scarcely  hold  my  pen.  I  have  enjoyed  the  day 
as  much  as  could  be  expected,  and  partook  of  the  sacrament 
with  (thank  God)  thirty  others.  May  our  Father,  'the  Fa- 
ther of  all  mercies,'  keep  us  ever  '  looking  unto  Jesus'  our 
Saviour." 


THE    TRENCHES 


A  paragraph  in  the  public  press,  early  in  the  month  of 
January,  1855,  conveyed  the  first  intelligence  that  three 
officers  had  been  found  dead  in  their  tents  from  the  effects 
of  the  fumes  of  charcoal,  and  that  another  was  hanging 
between  life  and  death  ;  that  other  was  Hedley  Vicars, 
lie  had  returned  to 'his  tent  chilled  and  weary,  after  a 
wild  and  snowy  night  in  the  trenches.  Before  throwing 
himself  on  his  miserable  bed  of  leaves  and  stones,  he  told 
bis  servant,  as  it  was  intensely  cold,  to  make  a  small  fire 
of  charcoal  in  the  dish,  and  to  leave  the  door  of  the  tent 
partially  open,  imagining  that  this  would  secure  him  from 
any  injurious  effects.  Providentially  he  was  for  out-lying 
picquet  that  afternoon.  His  servant,  who  had  several 
times  called  him,  at  last  became  alarmed,  and  went  for 
the  surgeon.  He  found  him  returning  from  the  tent  of 
another  officer  of  the  97th,  for  whom,  also  !  his  aid  had 
come  too  late. 

Hedley  was  carried  into  the  open  air  and  laid  on  the 
snow.  His  men  stood  round  him  wringing  their  hands. 
Some  assisted  the  medical  officer  in  chafing  with  snow  the 
body  of  him  they  loved,  in  hopes  of  restoring  vitality. 
At  length,  after  the  severe  methods  of  blistering  and  bleed- 


22 

ing  had  been  resorted  to,  consciousness  returned.  He  was 
spared  for  a  nobler  end,  to  fulfil  his  own  choice — "  As  a 
soldier  I  will  die  \" 

A  serious  illness  followed  the  accident,  during  which 
the  tenderest  attentions  were  bestowed  by  his  fellow-offi- 
cers and  the  men.     He  writes  : 

"January  8th,  1855.  How  I  thank  God  that  no  one  but 
myself  slept  in  the  tent  that  night,  and  surely  I  have  cause 
to  praise  Him  for  His  goodness  in  snatching  me  from  the 
jaws  of  death.  My  first  impulse,  after  raising  my  heart  in 
gratitude  to  that  God  who  had  preserved  me,  was  to  see 
whether  my  little  picture  was  safe  at  my  heart; — it  was 
there!  I  took  a  long,  long  look  at  the  sweet  face  of  her  who 
had  made  summer  of  my  gloomy  winter,  and  thanked  God 
again  for  having  preserved  my  life." 

"  January  12th. — I  have  just  returned  from  a  night  in  the 
trenches,  having  just  come  off  the  sick  list.  Last  Sunday  I 
was  unable  to  leave  my  tent,  but  had  a  happy  communion 
with  Jesus  in  my  solitude.  *  *  *.  I  find  more  and  more 
every  day,  how  little  I  can  depend  on  the  feelings  of  my 
heart  towards  Him,  but  my  comfort  is,  that  '  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever.'  During  my  illness 
.1  was  very  happy,  but  for  some  days  past,  my  heart  has  seem- 
ed cold  and  dead.  What  a  lonely  gloomy  time  it  is,  when 
Jesus  withdraws  the  light  of  His  countenance,  but  at  all 
times,  I  can  and  do  trust  His  love  and  tenderness,  and  I  feel 
persuaded  He  is  sending  me  the  trial  of  faith  to  draw  me 
nearer  to  Himself." 

"Sunday,  February  14. — After  morning  service,  I  went  to 
read  and  pray  with  the  sick  in  the  hospital,  and  to  distribute 
the  blessed  cards  of  prayer  for  which  the  poor  fellows  seem- 
ed most  thankful.  I  do  and  will  hope  that  many  who  have 
gone  to  their  last  homes  from  the  dreary  camp,  are  now  be- 
fore the  Lamb,  clothed  in  white  robes.  May  not  a  broken 
heart,  drawn  by  a  Saviour's  dying  love,  to  make  known  its 
wants  to  Him,  and  to  lean  its  hopes  of  pardon  and  eternal 
life  on  the  blood  of  the  Cross,  have  received  the  answer  of 
peace  direct  from  the  mercy  seat,  (where,  thank  God,  Jesus 
over  pleads,)  '  Enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord  !'  " 

"  You  ask  my  opinion  of  our  prospects.  I  do  not  take  the 
gloomy  views  of  the  newspapers— no.  Although  I  have 
seen  many  a  noble  soldier  laid  low  forever,  and  regiments 


reduced  to  less  than  hnlf  their  number' by  sickness,  since 
November,  I  have  no  fears  of  the  ultimate  result  by  the  help 
of  God.  The  French  have  a  large  army,  80,000  or  90,000 
strong  in  the  Crimea,  and  more  regiments  arriving  every  day. 
And  what,  with  these  and  12,000  British,  we  are  able  to  de- 
feat any  Russian  army  that  Menschikoff  can  bring  against 
us.  The  boxes  sent,  &c,  have  arrived,  and  their  contents  are 
invaluable.  How  kin^l  in  that  lady  at  Torquay  to  cut  up 
her  fur  cloak  into  chest  preservers  for  the  soldiers.'' 

Sun  lay  night,  18. — "  This  has  been  a  bright  happy  day. 
We  had  Divine  service  near  the  Guard's  encampment,  but 
the  Chaplain  was  not  there,  and  we  had  ^o  sermon.  We, 
therefore,  had  our  little  service  in  the  tent  soon  afterwards, 
and  a  few  of  us  read  and  prayed  together  this  evening.  My 
mansion  is  much  more  comfortable  for  my  purposes  since  1 
excavated  it  ;  there  is  more  room,  and  it  is  warmer.  I  have 
a  fire-place  now  ;  what  do  you  think  of  that  ;  which  only 
smokes  three  or  four  times  a  day;  a  small  chair  I  bought  at 
Balaklava,  a  little  table  made  out  of  the  bottom  of  an  old  case, 
and  as  for  my  bed,  with  the  depth  of  that  fur  :  why  it  is  the 
envy  of  all  who  see  it.  And  though  the  others  beat  me  in 
having  bedsteads  and  double  tents,  I  think  my  house  now  the 
most  comfortable  in  the  camp,  and  at  all  events  it  will  be 
when  the  eandlestove  arrives." 

Feb.  19. — ':  On  my  return  to  my  tent,  I  found  there  Mr. 
Duncan  Matheson,  the  soldier's  missionary.  We  read  the 
third  chapter  of  Ephesians,  and  he  prayed  with  me.  When 
he  left  I  saw  that  three  of  my  brother  officers  were  standing 
close  by:  they  must  have  heard  that  fervent  prayer.  Who 
knows  but  that  one  of  them  may  be  led  to  pray  for  himself 
this  night.  God  grant  it!  One  of  these  three  said  to  me  the 
other  day,  '  Vicars,  I  dreamed  about  you  the  other  night,  and 
I  thought  you  were  speaking  to  me  about  religion.'  :  Well, 
and  did  you  like  it,'  I  said.  '  Yes,  very  much."  he  replied. 
May  the  Lord  give  me  courage  to  speak  faithfully  and  ear- 
nestly, and  bless  my  feeble  words  to  his  soul's  good,  for  Jesus' 
sake." 

To  his  sister,  Lady  Rayleigh,  he  writes: 

Camp  before  Sebastopol,  Feb.  23d,  1S50. 
My  own  much  loved  sister  :   A  thousand  thanks   for  the 
welcome  presents  of  warm  clothing,  &c,  &c.     Evervthing  I 


24 

have  seen  is  just  what  I  wanted.  All  my  company  now, 
thanks  to  yeur  kindness,  are  well  supplied  with  everything 
requisite  to  keep  out  the  cold.  *         *  * 

"  I  have  seen  my  old  friend  Cay  of  the  Coldstream  Guards 
several  times,  and  have  enjoyed  sweet  Christian  converse 
with  him.  I  gave  him  several  of  Dear  L — 's  cards  of  prayer ; 
and  when  I  went  on  Sunday  to  the  Guard's  Hospital,  I  ob* 
served  one  fastened  to  each  bed.  It  made  me  glad  to  see 
weary  and  dying  eyes  resting  on  the  words,  "  Oh  God!  Wash 
me  from  all  my  sins  in  my  Saviour's  blood,  and  I  shall  be  ivhiter 
than  snow.     Fill  me  with  the  Holy  Ghost  for  Jesus  Christ  sake." 

March  4th — Sunday. —  'Had  Divine  service  in  the  camp. 
Service  in  the  tent  and  barracks ;  and  again  in  the  evening 
— seven  pre.sent.  Afterwards  took  a  short  walk  with  Van- 
deleur  Craigie  and  Anderson  of  the  Engineers;  read  and 
prayed  with  Major  Ingram  and  Lieut.  Derman  in  the  latter's 
tent.     Oh,  what  a  happy  day  this  has  been." 

This  part  of  Hedley  Vicars'  diary  brings  us  to  his  last 
letter  written  to  the  much  loved  friend  who  compiled  the 
beautiful  memoirs  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken  : 

"Your  letter  of  the  18th  contains  no  small  comfort  for  me 
I  bless  God  that  my  L —  is  with  her  more  than  mother  to  be 
comforted  in  these  dark  days.     How  I  have  blessed  you  in 
my  heart,  for  all  your  love  to  us  both.         *  *         * 

"  Major  Ingram  is  one  of  my  best  friends,  and  a  true 
Christian.  We  have  often  read  and  prayed  and  held  com- 
munion together.  Douglas  Macgregor  is  very  dear  to  me. 
He  is  a  very  young  man  and  full  of  high  spirits;  which  might 
now  and  then  carry  him  away,  were  he  not  continually 
seeking  to  have  more  and  more  of  the  mind  of  Christ,  and 
jn  these  solemn  seasons  his  thoughts  turn  often  heavenwards. 
Do  not  cease  to  pray  for  him  and  for  my  subaltern  Brinkley, 
that  they  may  be  good  and  fearless  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Macgregor  is  the  officer  who  asked  some  weeks  ago  to  be  my 
companion  in  visiting  the  hospitals,  adding,  with  character- 
istic ingenuousness,  'I  have  just  been  reading  the  words  'I 
was  sick  and  ye  visited  me  not,'  and  I  should  not  like  my 
Saviour  to  be  addressing  these  words  to  me.  Yesterday  I 
visited  the  hospitals,  and  read  the  12th  of  Heb.  to  a  poor  dy- 
iflg  man  who  had  beckoned  me  to  do  so  when  I  was  at  the 
other  end  of  the  ward.     He  was  low  and  wretched,  but 


25 


seemed  comforted  when  I  spoke  of  the  'blood  that  cleanseth 
from  all  sin.:" 

March  16. — lt  We  have  lately  lost  several  me"n  in  the 
trenches.  On  Wednesday  last  Capt.  Craigie  of  the  Engi- 
neers, who  regularly  attended  our  Sabbath  prayer  meetings, 
was  killed  by  a  shell  in  the  middle  ravine.  I  was  on  pic- 
quet  there  on  that  day,  and  he  was  struck  only  a  few  min- 
utes before  I  came  up  with  my  men.  Poor  fellow!  he  was 
quickly  called  into  eternity,  for  he  never  spoke,  but  fell  in- 
stantly after  being  hit.  I  feel  sure  he  was  ready,  and  is  now 
safe  forever  !  I  liked  him  very  much,  and  his  death  has 
thrown  a  gloom- over  our  small  band.  We  were  turned  out 
the  night  before«ast  by  a  heavy  fire  in  our  front ;  it  lasted 
about  20  minutes,  when  it  ceased  entirely  ;  but  ere  long  we 
were  alarmed  by  another  cannonade,  and  we  once  more  stood 
to  arms.  It  was  a  fine  starlight  night,  and  as  I  stood  gazing 
in  the  direction  of  the  fusillades.  I  thought  I  had  never  wit- 
nessed a  more  imposing  spectacle.  Shells  in  quick  succes- 
sion were  shooting  up  into  the  air,  with  the  bright  glare  of 
artillery  reflecting  over. the  brow  of  the  hills  on  our  front, 
and  the  lurid  flashes  of  musketry  as  volley  after  volley  chi- 
med in,  accompanied  by  the  wild  cheers  of  the  combatants, 
which  we  could  plainly  hear  at  intervals,  even  amidst  the 
deafening  noise.  In  less  than  half  an  hour  all  was  quiet, 
and  we  again  in  our  tents.  It  was  an  attack  made  by  the 
French  on  the  Russian  advanced  work,  from  which  they 
drove  the  enemy,  and  were  in  their  turn  driven  out.  *  *   *   * 

"  We  are  anxiously  expecting  the  batteries  to  open  in  good 
earnest,  but  they  say  there  is  not  shot  or  shell  enough  up  yet. 
My  love  to  your  beloved  father.  I  enclose  a  letter  to  my 
own  L — .  God  bless  you  my  own  most  beloved  mother- 
Sister.  Jesus  is  near  and  very  precious  to  my  heart  and 
soul.     May  He  ever  be  to  you  also. 

Ever  your  most  warmly  attached  son  and  brother, 

HEDLEY." 

On  the  Sabbath  which  followed,  his  last  on  earth,  Iled- 
ley  seemed  like  Moses  to  have  climbed  the  mountains 
where  the  promised  land  was  seen,  and  to  have  canght  the 
dawn  of  the  eternal  Sabbath  so  near  at  hand.  Then  came 
the  day  appointed  for  humiliation,  and  fasting  and  prayer. 
lie  had  earnestly  desired  its  appointment.  In  some  of  his 
letters  he  had  expressed  his  belief,  that  till  God  was  lion- 


26 

ored  as  a  nation,  in  the  ascription  of  victory  to  His  power 
and  in  the  acknowledgment  of  His  chastening  hand  in 
defeat,  we  could  scarcely  expect  success.  He  kept  the  day 
as  a  solemn  fast  before  the  Lord.  After  morning  parade 
Hedley  Vicars  walked  with  Major  Ingram  to  see  the  sun- 
rise in  the  valley  of  Tchernaya,  and  by  the  burning  of 
their  hearts  by  the  way  it  seemed  that  Jesus  himself  drew 
nigh  and  went  with  them.  The  evening  was  passed  in 
communion  with  his  beloved  friend  Cay,  who  can  never 
forget  the  tone  of  that  last  conversation.  It  seemed  as  if 
the  spirit  of  his  young  companion  had  already  taken  wings, 
and  "  was  in  Heaven  before  he  came  there."  Late  that 
night  he  wrote  the  following  words  : 

"  God  bless  those  whose  exertions  have  been  the  means 
of  bringing  about  this  day  of  national  prayer.  I  look  for 
great  results  from  the  prayers  that  have  ascended  to  heaven 
this  day,  and  have  been  presented  by  our  great  Intercessor 
before  the  throne  of  God.  I  have  felt  the  day  to  be  just  like 
Sunday,  and  have  derived  much  comfort  from  communion 
with  my  God  and  Saviour.  We  had  two  text  services  :  Van- 
deleur  came  looth  times,  spent  the  evening  with  Cay;  I 
read  Isaiah  41st,  and  he  prayed.  We  walked  together  dur- 
ing the  day  and  exchanged  our  thoughts  about  Jesus." 

Thus  the  last  words  he  ever  wrote  was  the  name  he 
loved  best. 

One  other  fragment  was  found  in  his  desk,  addressed  to 
her  whom  he  loved  with  the  power  of  a  true  and  manly 
heart,  yet  does  it  speak  of  joy  and  gladness  from  another 
source  than  that  most  tender  love. 

"  The  greater  part  of  another  month  is  past,  and  here  I 
am  kept  by  the  protecting  arm  of  the  Almighty  from  all  harm. 
I  have  been  in  many  a  danger  by  night  and  day  since  I  last 
wrote  to  you  my  own  beloved,  and  the  Lord  has  delivered 
me  from  them  all,  and  not  only  so,  but  he  has  likewise  kept 
me  in  perfect  peace,  and  made  me  glad  with  the  light -of  his 
countenance.  In  Jesus  I  find  all  I  want  of  happiness  or  en- 
joyment, and  as  week  after  week,  and  month  after  month 
roll  by,  I  believe  he  is  becoming  more  and  more  lovely  in 
my  ej  es,  and  precious  to  my  soul. 

Twenty-four  hours  more  and  he  has  "  seen  the  King  in 
his  beauty." 


27 


THE  VICTORY. 

The  night  of  the  22nd  of  March  was  dark  and  dreary. 
The  wind  rose  high  and  swept  across  the  Crimea.  There 
was  for  the  time  a  stillness  over  the  armies  like  the  calm 
before  a  tempest. 

At  the  advanced  post  of  the  British  forces,  on  the  side 
nearest  the  French  was  a  detachment  of  the  97th  Regi- 
ment commanded  by  Capt.  Vicars.  No  watch  fire  on  that 
post  of  danger  might  cast  its  light  as  aforetimes  upon  the 
book  of  God,  yet  was  that  place  of  peril  holy  ground. 
Once  more  the  night  breeze  bore  away  the  hallowed  sounds 
of  prayer.  One  stern  duty  more,  oh  !  soldier  and  Chris- 
tian, and  realities  more  lovely  and  glorious  than  it  hath 
entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive,  shall  satisfy  thy 
soul. 

Soon  after  ten  o'clock  that  night  a  loud  firing  commen- 
ced and  was  sustained  in  the  direction  of  the  Victoria  re- 
doubt opposite  the  Malakoff  tower.  Taking  advantage  of 
the  darkness  of  the  night,  a  Russian  force  of  15,000  men 
issued  from  Sebastopol.  Preserving  a  sullen  silence  they 
approached  from  the  Mamelon  under  cover  of  the  fire  of 
their  ambuscades,  and  effected  an  entrance  into  the  French 
advanced  parallel,  before  an  alarm  could  be  given  to  the 
sentries.  After  a  short  but  desperate  struggle,  the  French 
were  obliged  to  fall  back  on  their  reserves. 

The  column  of  the  enemy  then  marched  along  the  par- 
allel, and  came  up  the  ravine  on  the  right  of  the  British 
lines  for  the  purpose  of  taking  them  into  the  flank  and 
rear.  On  their  approach  being  observed  they  were  sup- 
posed to  be  the  French,  as  the  ravine  separated  the  allied 
armies.  Hedley  Vicars  was  the  first  to  discern  that  they 
were  Russians. 

With  a  coolness  and  judgment  that  seems  to  have  called 
forth  admiration  from  all  quarters,  he  ordered  his  men  to 
lie  down  until  the  Russians  came  within  20  paces.  Then 
with  his  first  war-shout,  "  Now  97th  on  your  pins  and 
charge,"  himself  foremost  in  the  conflict  he  led  his  men 


28 

on  to  victory,  charging  two  thousand  with  a  force  of  bare- 
ly two  hundred.  A  bayonet  wound  in  the  breast  onlv 
seemed  to  fire  his  courage  the  more,  and  again  his  voice 
rose  high  "  Men  of  the  97th  follow  me,"  as  he  leaped  that 
parapet  he  had  so  nobly  defended,  and  charged  the  enemy 
down  the  ravine. 

One  moment  a  struggling  moonbeam  fell  upon  his  flash- 
ing sword,  and  he  waived  it  through  the  air  with  the  last 
cheer  for  his  men,  "This  way  97th,"  the  next  moment  the 
strong  arm  which  had  been  uplifted  hung  powerless  by  his 
side  and  he  fell  amidst  his  enemies.  But  friends  followed 
fast,  his  mea-  fought  their  way  through  the  ranks  of  the 
Russians  to  defend  the  parting  life  of  the  leader  they  loved. 
In  their  arms  they  bore  him  back,  amidst  shouts  of  a  vic- 
tory so  dearly  bought.  Captain  Browne  found  a  stretcher, 
and  placing  his  friend  upon  it,  cooled  his  fevered  lips  with 
a  draught  of  water.  To  each  inquiry  Hedley  Vicars  an- 
swered cheerfully,  that  he  believed  his  wound  was  slight, 
but  a  main  artery  had  been  severed,  and  his  life  blood 
flowed  fast. 

A  few  paces  onward,  and  he  faintly  said,  "  Cover  my 
face !  cover  my  face  I"  What  need  for  covering  under  the 
shade  of  that  dark  night?  Was  it  not  a  sudden  conscious* 
ness  that  he  was  entering  into  the  presence  of  that  holy 
God  before  whom  the  cherubim  veil  their  faces?  As  the 
soldier  laid  him  down  at  the  door  of  his  tent,  he  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus,  to  awake  up  after  His  likeness  and  be  satisfied 
with  it.  "  We  asked  life  of  Thee'and  Thou  gavest  it  him, 
even  length  of  days  for  ever  and  ever." 

A  passage  in  the  despatch  from  Lord  Raglan,  published 
on  Good  Friday,  April  6th,  closed  the  last  door  of  hope, 
that  there  might  be  some  mistake  in  the  telegraphic  notice 
of  Captain  Vicars'  death  : 

Camp  before  Sebastopol,  March  24,  J  855. 
"  Early  in  the  night  a  serious  attack  was  made  before  the 
works  of  our  allies,  in  front  of  the  Victoria  redoubt,  opposite 
the  Malakoff  tower.  The  night  was  very  dark,  and  the  wind 
so  high  that  the  firing  which  took  place,  and  which  was  very 
heavy,  could  scarcely  be  heard  in  the  British  camp  ;  it  is 
therefore  difficult  to  speak  with  certainty  of  what  occurred 


29 


from  anything  that  could  be  heard,  or  observed  at  the  mo- 
ment. It  appears,  however,  that  the  Russians,  after  attack- 
ing the  head  of  the  Sap,  which  the  French  were  carrying  on 
towards  the  Mamelon,  fell  with  two  heavy  masses  on  their 
new  parallel,  to  the  rear  of  which  they  succeeded  in  pene- 
trating and  momentarily  possessing,  after  a  gallant  resistance 
on  the  part  of  our  allies. 

Having  broken  through,  they  passed  along  the  parallel  and 
in  rear  of  it,  until  they  came  in  contact  with  troops  stationed 
in  our  advanced  parallel,  extending  into  the  ravine  from  the 
right  of  our  advance,  where  it  connects  with  the  French 
trenches.  The  enemy  was  here  met  by  detachments  of  the 
77th  and  97th  regiments,  forming  part  of  the  guard  of  the 
trenches,  who,  although  tints  suddenly  taken  both  in  flank 
and  rear,  behaved  with  the  utmost  gallantry  and  coolness. 

The  detachment  of  the  97th,  which  was  on  the  extreme 
right,  and  which  consequently  first  came  in  contact  with  the 
enemy,  repulsed  the  attack  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
They  were  led  by  Captain  Vicars,  who  unfortunately  lost 
his  life  on  the  occasion,  and  I  a%n  assured  that  nothing  could 
be  more  distinguished  than  the  gallantry  and  good  example 
which  he  set  to  the  men  under  his  command.*' 

By  the  same  post,  the  following  letter  confirmed  the  fa- 
tal tidings  : 


"  Camp  before  Sabastopol, . 

,:  To  Loud  Rayleigh, — 

"  My  Lord  :  It  is  with  the  deepest  sorrow  that  I  write  to 
announce  the  death  of  Capt.  Vicars  of  the  97th  regiment. 
He  was  killed  last  night  in  the  trenches,  while  gallantly 
cheering  on  his  men  to  the  attack  of  a  body  of  the  enemy, 
who,  taking  advantage  of  the  darkness  of  the  night,  got 
close  into  our  trenches.  From  what  I  can  hear  of  the  affair, 
he  rushed  bravely  in  the  midst  of  them,  knocked  down  two, 
and  was  in  the  act  of  striking  a  third,  when  one  of  them 
shot  him  through  the  right  arm.  high  up  close  to  the  shoul- 
der— the  ball  divided  the  principal  artery,  and  he  must  soon 
have  bled  to  death,  therefore  it  is  a  melancholy  pleasure  to 
learn  that  his  sufferings  were  short. 

I  cannot  express  my  own  sorrow  and  that  of  the  regiment 
at  the  loss  of  so  valuable  an  officer,   further  than  to  say  as  it 


30 

regards  myself,  I  feel  that  I  have  lost  a  brother.  It  was  in 
his  society  I  felt  the  happiest.  As  it  regards  the  regiment 
he  cannot  be  replaced.  Contemplating  his  melancholy  loss 
in  the  light  of  a  Christian,  we  indeed  ought  not  to  sorrow  as 
those  who  have  no  hope,  for  I  feel  sure,  no  officer  in  the 
whole  army  was  more  prepared  to  meet  his  Saviour.  I  write 
to  your  Lordship,  as  he  told  one  of  the  officers  his  mother 
was  with  you,  and  gave  direction,  in  case  (as  he  said)  of 
anything  happening  to  him.  I  am,  &c,  &c, 

T.  0.  W.  INGRAM, 

Major  91th  Regiment. 

The  following  letter  from  his  beloved  friend  Douglas 
Macgregor,  closes  our  extracts  from  the  "Life  of  Hedley 
Vicars : 

"  Camp  before  Sebastopol,  March  23,  1855. 
"  To  Lady  Macgregor; — 

"Dear  Mother:  This  is  a  dark  and  gloomy  day  with  me. 
My  heart  is  wrung,  my  eyes*red  and  hot  with  crying — I  feel 
gloomy  and  sorrowful  altogether.     My  very  dear  friend.  Vi- 
cars was  killed  last  night.     The  Russians  made  a  sortie,  and, 
whilst  gallantly  leading  on  a  handful  of  our  men   to  charge 
them  outside  our  works,  he  was  mortally  wounded  by  a  ball 
striking  his  right  breast.     He  died  soon  after,  and  is  now  en- 
joying a  glorious  rest  in  the  presence  of  his   Saviour.     I  do 
not  pity  him.     What  more  could  we  wish  for  hi  in  ?     He  was 
fully  prepared  for  the  most  sudden  death,  and  died  bravely 
fighting  and  doing  his  duty.     But  my  heart  bleeds  for  the  loss 
of  my  dearest  friend,  and  for  the  sake  of  his  poor  rrtother 
1  and  family.     Such  a  death  became  such  a  life'   and    such  a 
soldier.     The  most  gallant,  the  most  cheerful,  the  happiest, 
the  most  universally  respected  officer,  and  the  most  consci- 
entious  Christian  soldier,  has  been  taken  from  us  by  that 
,  fatal  bullet,  and  I   know  not  how  to  live  without  him.     He 
I  was  my  truest  friend,  my  most  cheerful  companion,  and  my 
■.  friendly  counseller  on  all  occasions.     But,  as  his  sergeant  re- 
|  marked  bitterly  this  morning,  'He  was  too  good  to  live!  Oh, 
t  how  many  little  schemes  of  mine  does  it  put  an  end  to  !     I 
had  fondly  hoped  that  he  would  live  to  go  home,  and  that  I 
might  bring  my  dear  friend  to  you  and  proudly  show  him  as 
a  specimen  of  what  a  model  soldier  should  be.     But  God's 
ways  are  not  our  ways.     He  spared'  him  from  the  horrible 


31 

death  of  suffocation  by  charcoal,  for  a  few  months,  that  he 
might  die  a  soldier's  death. 

"Noble  fellow!  he  rushed  in  front  of  his  men,  and  his 
powerful  aim  made  more  than  one  Russian  fall  before  that 
cruel  bullet  brought  him  down.  It  must  have  been  fired 
close  to  him,  for  his  coat  was  singed.  When  I  heard  at  day- 
light this  morning  that  Vicars  had  been  brought  home  dead, 
you  may  imagine  my  grief.  I  loved  that  man  as  dearly  as  a 
brother  :  and  it  seems  that  I  almost  hear  his  voice  sounding 
in  my  ears  as  he  read,  two  days  ago,  the  service  when  some 
of  us  met  on  the  day  of  humiliation.  There  was  a  little 
locket  he  always  wore  round  his  neck, and  I  remember  when 
he  heard  we  were  to  come  here,  he  said,  "  We  should  all  be 
prepared  to  give  directions  what  we  wish  done  in  case  we 
get  killed  ;  for  instance.  I  have  got  a  little  book  of  Psalms. 
and  a  locket  which  I  would  wish  sent  home  in  case  I  die." 
Poor  fellow!  I  remembered  this,  and  as  I  took  the  locket  [a 
•mall  gold  one  which  opens  like  a  watch]  and  has  a  small 
picture  sprinkled  with  his  life  blood,  I  cried  so  that  I  thought 
I  would  get  ill.         *  *         * 

"  Oh  his  poor  mother  and  sisters  that  he  loved  so  dearly  ! 
But  she  is  a  Christian,  and  has  lived  to  see  her  once  wild  and 
reckless  son  come  to  the  fold  ot  Jesus,  and  prove  his  sincer- 
ity by  a  long  and  consistent  course.  I  also  cut  a  lock  of  his 
fine  curly  hair  this  morning,  as  I  know  his  mother  would 
like  to  get  it.  If  I  were  to  try  to  write  all  the  good  that  my 
beloved  friend  did  I  should  not  have  room.  How  he  fear- 
lessly visited  and  spoke  to  the  men  in  the  worst  times  of 
cholera,  but  as  he  told  me  he  got  his  reward,  for  the  soldier'* 
dying  lips  besought  blessings  on  his  head.  Oh,  ho  v  happy 
#he  is  now!  Such  a  death  and  such  a  glory  now!  Even  in 
death  his  habitual  happy  smile  di^not  forsake  him.  The 
Lord  knew  when  and  how  to  take  him  ;  but  it  is  a  severe 
and  unspeakably  painlul  trial  tome. 

"Every  one  liked  and  respected  Vicars  ;  even  those  who 
did  not  agree  with  his  strict  religion,  and  those  who  had 
known  him  so  long  as  the  leader  of  every  mad  riot,  when, 
after  watching  him  closely  for  years,  and,  finding  that  once 
enlisted  in  Christ's  army,  he  never  flinched,  at  last  gave  in, 
and  acknowledged  that  Vicars  at  any  rate  was  a  true  Chris- 
tian. 

"Our  men  got  great  praise  for  the  fight  last  night;  but  who 
would  not  go  anywhere  with  such  a  leader?     Some  howl 


32 

passed  a  restless,  sleepless  night,  and  I  then  heard  different 
arrivals  of  the  wounded  men,  but  did  not  know  that  my  poor 
— no,  my  happy — friend  was  amongst  the  number  until  pa- 
rade at  daybreak.  If  you  have  not  lost  that  crocus  that  Vi- 
cars sent  a  few  weeks  ago,  please  to  keep  it.  Oh,  '  blessed 
are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord.' 

';  Farewell,  Vicars,  my  loved  companion  !  I  knew  when 
lie  went  into  action  he  would  show  that  a  Christian  soldier 
was  a  brave  as  well  as  a  happy  man.  I  do  not  exactly  know 
Low  it  all  was  ;  I  only  vouch  for  the  above  facts,  and  the 
terrible  reality  of  poor  Vicars'  noble  frame  lying  in  the  hos- 
pital tent,  where  I  saw  it.  God  bless  you,  dear  mother,  and 
may  He  sanctify  this  severe  trial  to  my  soul. 

Your  own  DOUGLAS." 

Six  months  more,  and  Douglas  Macgregor  and  Hedley 
Vicars  had  met  again — "  Lovely  and  pleasant  in  their 
lives,  in  their  death  they  were  not  long  divided." 

Bright  as  the  young  survivor's  Christian  life  had  been 
before,  it  cleared  into  yet  fuller  lustre  during  those  six 
short  months  ere  his  sun  went  down  at  noon.  He  regu- 
larly visited  the  hospitals  to  read  and  pray  with  the  sick 
and  dying,  and  in  everything  sought  to  follow  in  the  steps 
of  his  beloved  friend. 

On  the  fatal  8th  of  September,  twice  he  fought  his  way 
int(\  the  Redan — the  second  time,  to  come  no  more  out. 
He  was  found  far  advanced  on  that  red  ground  lying  by 
a  cannon  in  the  sleep  of  death — 

<'  The  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised.-' 

These  brief  extracts,  from  the  life  of  this  noble  Chris- 
tian soldier,  are  concluded— with  the  humble,  earnest 
prayer,  that  every  soldier  of  our  Confederate  army  may 
follow  Hedley  Vicars,  as  he  followed  Jesus,  the  great  Cap- 
tain of  our  Salvation. 


33 


HYMN 


Oil  for  a  closer  walk  with  God, 
A  calm  and  heavenly  frame  ; 

A  light  to  shine  upon  the  road 
That  leads  me  to  the  Lamb. 

Where  is  the  blessedness  I  knew, 
When  first  I  saw  the  Lord  ? 

Where  is  the  soul-refreshing  view 
Of  Jesus  and  his  word ! 

What  peaceful  hours  I  then  enjoy'd  ; 

How  sweet  their  memory  still : 
But  now  I  feel  an  aching  void 

The  world  can  never  fill. 

Return,  0  holy  Dove,  return, 

Sweet  messenger  of  rest; 
I  hate  thee  sins  that  made  thee  mourn, 

And  drove  thee  from  my  breast. 

The  dearest  idol  I  have  known, 

Whate'er  that  idol  be, 
Help  me  to  tear  it  from  thy  throne, 

And  worship  only  thee. 

So  shall  my  walk  be  close  with  God, 
Calm  and  serene  my  frame; 

So  purer  light  shall  mark  the  road 
That  leads  me  to  the  Lamb. 


34 


HYMN 


Father  of  mercies,  bow  thine  ear, 
Attentive  to  our  earnest  prayer; 
We  plead  for  those  who  plead  for  thee, 
Successful  pleaders  may  they  be. 

How  great  their  work,  how  vast  their  charge 
Do  thou  their  anxious  souls  enlarge: 
Their  best  acquirements  are  our  gain  ; 
We  share  the  blessings  they  obtain. 

Clothe,  then,  with  energy  divine, 
Their  words,  and  let  those  words  be  thine; 
To  them  thy  sacred  truth  reveal, 
Suppress  their  fear,  inflame  their  zeal. 

Teach  them  to  sow  the  precious  seed, 
Teach  them  thy  chosen  flock  to  feed ; 
Teach  them  immortal  souls  to  gain, 
Souls  that  will  well  reward  their  pain. 

Let  thronging  multitudes  around, 
Hear  from  their  lips  the  joyful  sound ; 
In  humble  strains  thy  grace  implore, 
And  feel  thy  new-creating  power. 

Let  sinners  break  their  massy  chains, 
Distressed  souls  forget  their  pains; 
Let  light  through  distant  realms  be  spread, 
And  Sion  rear  her  drooping  head. 


■;* 


Hollinger  Corp, 
PH8.5 


N 


